Copyright timesnownews
Elizabeth Olsen has always seemed to exist at the intersection of strength and introspection. Known for portraying complex characters such as Wanda Maximoff, she brings a quiet intensity to every role, one that hints at an inner world shaped by empathy and curiosity. Beyond the camera, Olsen is an avid reader, and her bookshelf reflects the same mix of intellect and vulnerability that defines her acting. From mythic retellings to moral reckonings, her literary tastes reveal a fascination with what lies beneath the surface of human behaviour. Among the books Olsen has publicly mentioned or been photographed reading, three stand out: 'Circe' by Madeline Miller, 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr, and 'Talking to Strangers' by Malcolm Gladwell. Together, they form a trio that spans mythology, history, and psychology, stories that do not just entertain but provoke reflection. 1. Circe by Madeline Miller Madeline Miller’s Circe is a retelling of the Greek myth from the perspective of a woman long misunderstood. Traditionally depicted as a sorceress who turns men into pigs, Circe is reimagined here as an outsider finding her place in a world ruled by gods and men. Miller’s lyrical prose transforms her into a symbol of self-acceptance and resilience. For someone like Olsen, who often plays women grappling with power and identity, this book’s emotional pull is clear. Circe is not a story of rebellion for its own sake; it is about the slow, painful process of self-definition. Its heroine learns that isolation can be both punishment and freedom. The myth becomes deeply modern, speaking to anyone who has had to redefine themselves after being misunderstood or silenced. 2. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Anthony Doerr’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'All the Light We Cannot See' is set against the devastation of the Second World War, yet it feels deeply intimate. The story alternates between Marie-Laure, a blind French girl, and Werner, a German orphan recruited by the Nazis for his engineering talents. Their paths cross briefly, but the impact of that moment reverberates long after the war ends. Olsen’s appreciation for this novel makes sense given its blend of tragedy and tenderness. Doerr’s narrative is not just about the cruelty of war, but about the fragments of goodness that survive within it. He asks how light, both literal and metaphorical, continues to guide people even in the darkest of times. 3. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell At first glance, Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers seems like a departure from the other two books, yet it shares their concern with perception and misunderstanding. Gladwell investigates why humans are so often wrong about each other. Through case studies ranging from political scandals to wrongful arrests, he reveals the flaws in our assumptions and the dangers of misplaced trust. Olsen’s interest in this book hints at her curiosity about human psychology. Her best performances often rest on an ability to read emotional nuance to understand what a character cannot say. Talking to Strangers exposes how often those signals fail in real life. Gladwell argues that our social instincts, designed for cooperation, are ill-suited to deception and complexity. Elizabeth Olsen’s reading list feels like a reflection of her inner craft. Circe speaks to the search for identity in isolation, All the Light We Cannot See to compassion amid catastrophe, and Talking to Strangers to the fragile art of understanding. Each of these books is, in its own way, a study of what it means to be human, flawed, searching, and endlessly interpretive. Perhaps that is why Olsen’s choices feel so resonant. They are not the loud, easily digestible titles of celebrity book clubs, but thoughtful works that linger quietly. These are books for readers who find themselves thinking long after the final chapter, much like Olsen’s performances that stay with audiences well beyond the credits. In her literary tastes, as in her acting, she reminds us that strength and sensitivity are not opposites, but two sides of the same enduring truth.
